Fewer students in the high school class of 2013 took the SAT college admissions exam compared to previous years, and test scores remained largely unchanged, according to a report released today. Overall, SAT average scores have dropped by 20 points since 2006, when the test was revised to include a writing section. Gaps between racial groups increased, often significantly, over that period.

Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director of the National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest), said, “Proponents of 'No Child Left Behind,' 'Race to the Top,' and similar state-level programs promised the testing focus would boost college readiness while narrowing score gaps between groups. The data show a total failure according to their own measures. Doubling down on unsuccessful policies with more high-stakes K-12 testing, as Common Core exam proponents propose, is an exercise in futility, not meaningful school improvement.” (see http://fairtest.org/common-core-assessments-factsheet)

The number of SAT Subject Tests administered to the Class of 2013 also declined from the previous year. At the same time, students taking the rival ACT increased by 133,000 (chart available on request). “No wonder the new College Board president is scrambling to overhaul his company’s flagship exams,” FairTest’s Schaeffer concluded. “The college admissions marketplace is moving away from the SAT.”

FairTest leads the growing test-optional admissions movement. More than 800 accredited, bachelor-degree granting colleges and universities do not require all or many applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores (see http://fairtest.org/university/optional). Five more schools – Brandeis, Hood, Lynn, Regis, and St. Joseph’s -- dropped test-score requirements just last month.

- - 3 0 - -

2013 COLLEGE-BOUND SENIORS SAT SCORES --with score changes from 2006*

READING

MATH

WRITING

TOTAL

ALL TEST-TAKERS

496 (- 7)

514 (- 4

488 (- 9)

1498 (-20)

Female

494 (- 8)

499 (- 3)

493 (- 9)

1486 (- 20)

Male

499 (- 6)

531 (- 5)

482 (- 9)

1512 (- 20)

Asian, Asian Amer. or Pacific Islander

521 (+11)

597 (+19)

527 (+15)

1645 (+45)

White

527 ( 0)

534 ( - 2)

515 ( - 4)

1576 (- 6)

African American or Black

431 (- 3)

429 ( 0)

418 (- 10)

1278 (- 13)

Amer. Indian or Alaskan Native

480 (- 7)

486 (- 8)

461 (- 13)

1427 (- 28)

Mexican or Mexican American

449 ( - 5)

464 ( - 1)

442 (- 10)

1355 (- 16)

Puerto Rican

456 (- 3)

453 (- 3)

445 (- 3)

1354 (- 9)

Other Hispanic or Latino

450 (- 8)

461 (- 2)

443 ( - 7)

1354 (- 17)

* High school graduates in the class of 2006 were the first to take the SAT “Writing” Test. The “No Child Left Behind” mandate to test every child in grades 3-8 and at least once in high school went into effect in the 2005-2006 academic year.

Calculated by FairTest from: College Board, College-Bound Seniors 2013: Total Group Profile Report and College-Bound Seniors 2006: Total Group Profile Report